Kyle Feldt enlists a sports psychologist to eliminate errors from his game

KYLE Feld is leaving no stone unturned to eliminate the errors that cost him a Queensland Origin jersey last season.

Cowboy's Kyle Feldt celebrates scoring a try during the Wests Tigers v Cowboys rugby league match at Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

COWBOYS premiership hero Kyle Feldt has enlisted a sports psychologist to help him overcome the yips as he prepares to face the Broncos rival that snared his Queensland Origin jersey.

Feldt has hit flying form at the right time of the season, scoring a double in last week’s win against the Tigers to keep North Queensland’s finals dreams alive.

Now he wants redemption in Thursday’s final-round blockbuster against the Broncos in Townsville.

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Feldt, 25, produced a shocking performance in last year’s Round 11 derby at 1300 SMILES Stadium, spilling three bombs in a 15-minute debacle that convinced Queensland Origin selectors to not pick him.

Maroons hierarchy instead gave Broncos winger Corey Oates — Feldt’s rival on the flank on Thursday — his maiden Queensland jumper.

Feldt has struggled with errors in the past.

There have been plenty of “rocks or diamonds” moments for Feldt in 2017, however he has surged back to his best with the help of a sports psychologist.

“I’ve actually been doing a lot of work away from football with my mental stuff,” he said.

“I just do it at home. I do some mental exercises and my partner helps me out with it.

“It’s good to see that I can bring it on to the field. I made some early errors (against the Tigers) but I bounced back really strongly which was good.

“I can’t give away too many secrets (but) we have a sports psychologist up here who helps me out a fair bit.

Feldt scored two crucial tries last week.

“I have a yarn to him and he has given me a few mental exercises to do at home. It’s working.

“If I’m thinking ‘oh shit here we go again’, it’s going to stay in my head. The things I have been practising have been to put the errors out of my mind.”

It took Feldt 10 matches to score a try this season, sparking a run of seven in six games.

He has the ability to produce something special on the wing but minimising his mistakes has been a key for the 191cm flyer.

Feldt scored a memorable try opposing Oates in the 2015 grand final and he will face off against his long-term rival again.

“We go way back. We were in an Origin camp together and he’s a good bloke. I get on with him pretty well,” Feldt said.

“It’s always good to go up against him. We throw a bit of chat at each other. It’s fun to get stuck into each other.

“I basically played myself out of an Origin jumper last year against them at home, but that’s in the past. I’m not really fussed about what happened.

“If my times come to play Origin, it will come, but I have to put my best foot forward and play good footy.

Can the Cowboys sneak into the finals?

“I don’t dwell on it anymore. I had my opportunity and didn’t take it, but if the opportunity comes again, I will take it with both hands.”

A win against the Broncos will secure a top-eight finish for the Cowboys despite their injury struggles this year.

Cowboys coach Paul Green yesterday named the same 17 players from last week’s win against the Tigers for one of the rare times this season.

“It hasn’t happened too many times this year,” he said.

“At this time of the year you want your best team on the paddock.

“I think the Broncos will bounce back from last week’s loss (to Parramatta).

“Both teams bring the best out in each other. We know we need to be playing at our best given what’s ahead of us.”